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Message from the Mayor

Dear Residents,

On April 1, 2019, I proclaimed Census Call to Action Day. In mid-March 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau will mail postcards to every household in the United States about completing a brief census survey. This day marked one year out from April 1, 2020, Census Day - the deadline for households to complete the survey online, by mail or telephone. My message was simple, I want everyone to participate in the 2020 census, and I want to engage as many residents as possible to help make sure we count every individual in the greater Milwaukee area.

In order for the greater Milwaukee area and our state to receive our fair share of funding for various services, it is important that everyone is counted. Every year, Congress allocates over $800 billion to states, counties and cities nationwide based on census data – funding for public safety, health, education, transportation, and more. Annually, Wisconsin receives approximately $12.6 billion in federal funding based on census data alone. Census data is also used to decide the number of representatives each state gets in Congress. The data also helps define districts at the national and state level.

In order to reach historically undercounted populations including people of color, low-income individuals, homeless individuals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, single parent households, people who speak English as a second language, and foreign-born residents, the City of Milwaukee has formed a Complete Count Committee (CCC). The CCC will be led by the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Administration in partnership with regional government and community leaders. While the CCC will be integral to reaching these populations, I call upon all residents to help reach individuals and households.

The City of Milwaukee is pleased to launch this website as part of our proactive efforts to raise census awareness and encourage residents from every city, village and town in the Milwaukee County area to get involved! Wisconsin ranked #1 in the 2010 Census mail-in response rate, and we can do it again with your help! Together we count!